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JeepJeep (11-25-2009)
Time it takes to change the channel on two different TVs
Something that's been bugging me for some time now is that I have 2 TVs that I use for over-the-air. One is a newer Samsung and the other is an 2 year old RCA. Why does it take forever for the RCA to go from one channel to the other and the Samsung which is quicker still takes a while. When I go to the cable box, it changes channels on a dime.
My Samsung doesn't take that long, nor does my TiVo -- less than a half-second to change OTA channels. By comparison, my Philips, a much lesser brand, takes long. Clearly, there is a performance difference between better devices and lesser devices.
JeepJeep (11-25-2009)
My Samsung changes quickly. I don't have any delays.
Now what I always laugh at is how TV A in the living room and TV B in the bedroom, both on the same channel, can be 30 seconds behind in the signal. It's like an echo and it's hysterical.
JeepJeep (11-25-2009)
I hear a slight delay between my living room and bedroom OTA in the form of an echo. I am surprised it's not longer as the living room TV has a lot more RAM, and hence delays more. But it's enough to hear it.Originally Posted by Orrymain
The better TVs Orry, have more RAM. They use it to store more incoming frames of video. This way if they loose part of a frame, they try and reconstruct it from the previous and next frame the best they can. You can see it more on VHF with lightning around. The better TV won't loose as many lines during a lightning strike (even very distant ones where you would still be watching the TV as in 50 miles or more away).
I have two TIVO DVRs for SD Satellite through DirecTV. They are slightly different revisions of the same model. Even setting them both to live TV, the one in the bedroom is always behind the one in the living room. You can though play with the fast forward and replay to create different echo delays. It drives my wife crazy when I do it, lol.
The more I understand, the less I know.
PORK... The Other White Meat....
JeepJeep (11-25-2009)
LOL It's been like that for years, too, not even just with current techno teles. I remember differences as a child. It always made me laugh.
Never thought about TVs really being built like computers but it makes sense.
Does anyone remember the first TVs to use Electronic Tuning or On Screen Displays having that little 'PSSSSHT! of static when changing channels?
As for DTV, the only 'delay' i have is if i'm tuning to a weak signal, the delay is the box's attempting to acquire the signal.
Magnavox's CECB have this delay showing 'SCANNING...' when changing channels. i'm not sure what exactly it's 'scanning' for or if it's just there for show; doesn't have any effect on the ability to hold onto a solid picture though.
Last edited by DTVuser2009; 11-25-2009 at 09:32 AM.
highdefjeff (12-09-2009)
You might be able to force the channel change sooner by entering the destination channel on the remote's keypad, then presssing the "Enter" or "OK" key. This counteracts our cheapo AOL/Envision set's 3-4 second lag. There's no delay at all when using the channel up/channel down button, though.
You're lucky.We have the delay when using the up and down buttons too.
re: channel change delay
You guys reminded me of the 'channel-change-delay' I had on a used Zenith (barely) portable B&W set I bought with my paper route earnings in the late 1960's. State of the art at the time, with a remote control that used 'tuning forks' that drove my cat NUTS!Thanks for the memories!
Jim
When changing channels, all DTV receivers (Sat and cable) have to begin reading the signal stream. It is good to think of them like computers because they really are a computer. The DSP (Digital Signal Processor) has to decode the digital signal before returning it to the analog state for presentation. Just like your computer, it fills its "buffer" before it begins presentation. Unlike your computer, TV is not allowed to stop during the show. What the buffer does is to store up some of the show ahead so that if it runs into problems, you don't notice. (A computer video will just stop and say "buffering".) This is why they all have delay.
In addition to "normal" delay, weak signal will extend the delay time just as DTVuser2009 said.
The "scanning message" lets you know that something is going on and to wait. The tuner is filling the buffer so that you can watch your next program without interruption related to signal.
The difference in time between your two TV's has to do with variation in memory as well as the variation in sensitivity of the digital receivers. A more sensitive receiver will tune quicker on poor signal, which is likely the case.
If your DTV doesn't make you say "WOW!"...
http://www.wowvision.tv
http://hdtvpicturequality.blogspot.com/
JeepJeep (12-07-2009)
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